Episode 05

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Episode 05

Instructions

Do the Preparation task first. Then watch the video. Next go to Task and do the activity. If you need help, you can read the transcript at any time.

Preparation

Before you watch

We suggest you do the vocabulary activities below before you watch. Then watch the video and do the task to check your understanding. You can read the transcript at any stage if you want. Finally, have a look at Task 2, which contains some business notes and a further vocabulary activity on adjectives which are commonly used to describe jobs.

Sarah: Well, when I have time, yes! I do work at a centre for children with difficulties, yes...

Philip Hart: That must be very interesting...

Sarah: It’s rewarding and challenging.

Marcia Boardman: Sarah, can you tell us a little bit about your current position?

Sarah: I’m assistant sales director for a chain of language schools.

Philip Hart: So this post would be quite a change then...

Sarah: I don’t think so honestly because the skills are the same, despite the product.

Marcia Boardman: Why are you thinking of moving on?

Sarah: Well I’ve come as far as I can in my current position, I feel and I’m 28 now and would love to take on some more responsibility.

Marcia Boardman: Ok, let’s move on to managing people. Can you give us an example of when you had to deal with a particularly difficult managee?

Sarah: Well, yes, I had two people working for me who didn’t get along at all – they had no shared values, different temperaments – and they used to argue a lot, it looked like it was impossible for them to work together. So, I sat down with them, and we talked about their differences and their problems and after that, things went much more smoothly!

Philip Hart: How would you deal with a rapidly changing and uncertain global market?

Sarah: Ok, that’s actually something I wanted to talk about in my presentation...but I’d say to stay flexible and to diversify markets and sales strategies.

Marcia Boardman: It says on your CV you speak French and Spanish.

Sarah: Yes, I do. I lived in both France and Spain for a while.

Philip Hart: Any plans to learn other languages?

Sarah: I’d love to try!

Marcia Boardman: Ok, can you tell us about a time you had to close a particularly challenging deal?

Sarah: Well, the biggest contract I won - and the thing I’m most proud of professionally - was with a large university in India, to provide language training. The contract was full of technicalities and the client was very picky! – But I still pulled it off.

Marcia Boardman: Ok – do you have any questions for us?

Sarah: Yes - about your ethical policy and your carbon footprint...I was wondering whether you are planning to reduce your carbon footprint and whether all your products are ethically sourced?

Philip Hart: That’s a very good question...and that’s something we’re moving towards at the moment...

The video show an example of how one should prepare and behave on a job interview. I think Sarah will get the job, because she has made a great impression on the interviewers, showing great desire to work and the presence of the necessary skills.

Sure. Mastering English might not be the only thing that can give us a plus value in the workplace or school/college. We do need other skills, like programming, design, and etc according to the job requirement we apply. Maybe if we major in Math, it should be good if we master Math. But of course, mastering English will absolutely be a plus for a person compared to those we don’t master English.

'get', 'take' and 'have' are correct but mean different things. 'get' means she wins a competition for the job, whereas 'take' means she wins the competition and chooses the job (perhaps over other jobs). 'have' describes the job she will be doing.